-By Amy Milshtein, Photography by Richard Johnson Photography

project/client: Peterborough Regional Health Centre
location: Peterborough, Ontario
designer: Stantec Architecture

Sometimes the coolest hangouts appear in the unlikeliest of places. The mall, the downtown coffee shop, the park all seem like logical spots, but the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in Peterborough, Ontario? When Stantec Architecture created the new facility the designers knew they were bringing together two old facilities, but did they know it would bring together the community and become a cross-generational gathering spot?

"We intended it to be community connected," says Michael A. Moxam, senior principal at Stantec Architecture in Toronto. Indeed, instead of letting planning and equipment requirements drive the project, the architect looked to the human experience including connection, emotion, and orientation to lead the way.

The result is a center that embodies the environment of wellness through connection to and reflection of the community it serves. Nestled high in the hills, Peterborough commands sweeping views of the city and region beyond. The lobby serves as a nerve center, connecting all high-traffic areas, like ambulatory care services, admitting, administration, and retail, in a clear and understandable way. Lower traffic areas like diagnostic/treatment and inpatient units use subtle cues to intuitively direct patients along the right path.

Throughout the large facility, extensive glazing and courtyards continue to reconnect visitors, patients, and staff to the community. Even the most critical and bedridden patients are treated to floor-to-ceiling views, often leading to healing results. "It provides a positive distraction," says Tom Holden, vice president, planning and hospital services, Peterborough. "I asked a patient how he liked our state-of-the-art entertainment system, and he told me he preferred the view out his window."

The Centre is also attracting and retaining top-quality staff. Peterborough replaces two antiquated buildings that sat seven kilometers apart. With no natural light, air quality issues, and cramped work areas, the old hospitals served no one well. Using the Ontario model, 70 percent of funding for the new project was provided by the government. The surrounding population of more than 300,000 people came up with the balance. "The community really believed in and bought into the project," says Holden. "We had one of the highest dollar per capita donation rates ever."

Residents have claimed the Centre for their own as retirees hang out on the patio in the summer time. More surprisingly, kids from the nearby high school drop by the cafeteria for lunch. Moxam remains delighted. "It was born out of a clear idea of how to connect and has really taken off as a community center," he says. "It's been a project of a lifetime for me."

jury comment:
“This project remains appropriately institutional while shedding the undesirable trappings of traditional healthcare. The neutral and natural materials palette is elegant and non-institutional. There is superb integration between the building architecture and interiors…massing of the building stepping down the hill results in great vistas on which the interior capitalizes, making many of the spaces feel like they are outdoors.”


who
Project/client: Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Architecture, interior design: Stantec Architecture Ltd.; Michael Moxam, OAA, FRAIC, Assoc. AIA, principal in charge/design principal; Norm Crone, OAA, ACHA, principal, healthcare planning; Stephen Phillips, OAA, FRAIC, project principal; Anthony Cho, project manager; Eugene Chumakov, designer; George Bitsakakis, Grant MacEachern, Lisa Gregg, Brian Moeller, Tommy Ong, Stacy Fleming, Kevin Plant, Ko Van Klaveren, Terence Tam, Norma Angel, Gordon Martyshuk, Christine Andrews, Tim Lee, Shannon Crossman, Vanessa Vilic-Evangelista, Dana Tapak, Betty James, Chi-Ae Goodman, design team. Structural engineers: Carruthers and Wallace. Mechanical/electrical engineers: H.H.Angus Ltd. Landscape: Brian Basterfield and Associates Ltd. Civil: D.M. Wills and Associates Ltd. Lighting: H.H.Angus. Acoustical: Aercoustics. Cost Consultant: Marshall & Murray Inc. Code consultant: Larden Muniak Consulting Inc. Facility Programmers: Agnew Peckham & Associates. Traffic Consultant: Tranplan Associates Planners. Kitchen Consultant: Kaizen Food Consultants. Furniture dealer: Brant Office Supply. General contractor: EllisDon Corporation. Photographer: Richard Johnson Photography.

what
Paint: Sherwin-Williams. Stains: Sancin. Laminate: Formica, Nevamar, Wilsonart. Dry wall: CGC. Masonry: Hanson Brick, Permacon Block. Flooring: Forbo, Mannington, Lonseal, Nora, Johnsonite. Carpet/carpet tile: Interface, C&A. Porcelain Tile: Ceramiche. Ceramic tile: Daltile, Oympia Tile, Flor Gres. Fluid Applied Flooring: Duochem, Stonhard. Ceiling: CGC, Fantoni. Lab ceilings: E.H. Price. Operable partitions: Moderco. Plastic Laminate Compartments: Bobrick. Lighting, door hardware: Under Building Systems. Entrances: Alumicor. Metal doors: Baron Metal. Wood doors: Lambton Doors. Sliding doors: Besam. Fire-control doors, security grilles, upswinging doors, other: Kinnear/Wayne-Dalton. Glass: PPG. Window frames: Alumicor. Window treatments: Silent Gliss. Railings, wall protection: Construction Specialities Acrovyn. Wall fiber reinforcement: Levey industries. Cork: Forbo Industries. Lab Casework: MottLab. Patient room seating: Spec Furniture. Patient room casegoods: Continental Casework. Lounge seating: Nurture by Steelcase, Spec Furniture. Cafeteria/dining seating: Spec, Kiosk. Clinical seating: Neutral Posture Canada Corp. Patient seating: Tarrian Health Solutions. Office furniture, files, shelving: The Global Group. Children’s Furniture: Trifoglio. Upholstery: Morbern, Momentum, Global, Arc Com. Cafeteria/dining/conference/ coffee/side tables: Spec Furniture. Woodworking, cabinetmaking, reception & communication desks: Continental Cabinets. Solid surface: Corian. Acoustical panels: Knoll Textiles. Accessories: Frost, International Source of Ergonomics. Privacy curtains: Maharam. Signage: WSI. Elevators: Delta Elevators. Toilets, urinals: American Standard. Sinks: Architectural Metal Industries. Drinking fountains: Sunroc. Masonry: Hanson Brick. Metal/glass curtainwall: Alumicor. EIFS: Dryvit. Built-up roofing: Siplast. Aluminum: Alumicor. Glazing: PPG. Skylights: Slimlite Skylights. Insulated-panel or plastic glazing: Lexan. Door hardware: Schlage, Montreal Hinge / Stanley, LCN, Gallery Hardware. Exit devices: Von Duprin. Security devices: Securitron. Cabinet hardware: Hafele, Salice, Accuride, Richelieu. Lighting: Canlyte CFI, Lightolier, Rab Design, Hubbel.

where
Location: Peterborough, Ontario. Total floor area: 715,000 sq. ft. No. of floors: 5. Average floor size: 125,000 sq. dr. No. of beds: 494. Total staff size: Approx. 2,200. Cost/sq. ft.: $280/SF CDN.